If you started your day with BMW warning lights on your dash, we're here to help. By providing complete explanations of the warning light colors, a comprehensive BMW dashboard warning lights chart, and ways you can diagnose or fix your vehicle's problem, the Athens BMW team can get you back on the road in no time. Feel free to jump to the section you need most:
Stop googling "BMW dashboard warning lights: triangle," "BMW warning lights: exclamation mark," and "BMW warning lights: coolant." You deserve to know what's wrong with your vehicle, and we're here to help. Use the lists below to decode BMW warning lights, meanings, and potential causes. We've even divided the signs and symbols by color and system so they're easier to find.
When green or blue alerts appear, they indicate normal system functions.
This indicator looks like left and right arrows and shows you when your turn signal is engaged.
Typically in the shape of a light bulb, this alert means your headlights are on.
If you notice multiple short lines stacked beside a D-shaped headlight, this means your high beams are in use.
Three rows of plus signs leading toward a D-shaped headlight show you that your daytime running lights are working.
This BMW symbol looks like two headlights facing one another; it indicates that the taillights are functioning and often lights up when you're parking.
A stack of diagonal lines with a wave drawn vertically through them accompanied by a D-shaped headlight shows you that fog lights are engaged.
Often drawn as a thermometer floating in water, this symbol means your coolant temperature is good if it's illuminated in blue or green.
These green or blue symbols are there to simply tell you which automotive features are currently in use.
If your high-beam symbol lights up with an "A" overlaying the headlight image, your headlights will adjust automatically.
The headlamp sign coupled with the word "AUTO" is the same as High Beam Assist.
When this automated service is engaged to help you safely and smoothly change lanes, you'll see a steering wheel symbol on your dashboard.
"ASSIST PLUS" will illuminate when this semi-autonomous feature is helping you manage stop-and-go traffic.
Usually highlighted by the word "ASSIST" or a speedometer and the letters "LIM," this system keeps your vehicle moving at legal speeds.
If a steering wheel illuminates on your dash, your Steering Assist system is keeping you within your lane and safely distant from other vehicles.
When your vehicle automatically applies and releases the brake in stop-and-go traffic, you may notice "AUTO H" on your dash.
Usually noted as a speedometer symbol with the letters "LIM" on top, this alert tells you the speed limit you've set for your car is active.
Set your cruise control, and you'll notice that a road, a car driving on a road, or a speedometer with an arrow appears.
See a car driving on a road with a small speedometer? This indicator announces that smart cruise control is on.
If you notice any of these orange or red BMW engine warning lights – exclamation mark or otherwise – it's important to schedule BMW auto repair before serious vehicle damage or personal injury occurs.
If a symbol appears that looks like a pump, solve your problem by stopping for gas.
Shaped like a car battery – rectangular with plus and minus signs inside – this light means your battery isn't charging properly.
If "BRAKE," "ABS," or a circle with an exclamation inside appears, your braking system needs to be inspected ASAP.
This symbol, which looks like a circle surrounded by two sides of a dashed circular outline, means your brake pads likely need to be replaced.
If your thermometer-floating-in-water symbol appears but in an orange or red hue, you're at risk of overheating and severe engine damage.
Add coolant before your engine overheats if you see BMW warning lights that look like a rectangle containing a small amount of liquid.
Noticing an oil can symbol of any kind indicates low oil.
See an oil can floating on water? Your oil sensor is telling you the oil pressure in your engine is dangerously low.
Refill your windshield wiper fluid if a symbol shaped like a curved windshield with spritzing water through the center appears – one of the lesser red BMW warning lights, but still important for safety.
If your headlights aren't working, a light bulb-shaped alert with an exclamation mark inside should glow orange or red on your dash.
Anything from a loose gas cap to severe engine problems can trigger this symbol that looks like an old-school engine that's fully colored in.
If a car floating above the word "SERVICE" suddenly appears, you need routine maintenance.
Leaks or issues with belts or hoses are typically highlighted by this alert, which looks like a car raised high on an automotive lift or jack.
If your Stop/Start system is malfunctioning and needs attention, you'll see an exclamation mark surrounded by a circular arrow.
A steering wheel beside an exclamation mark means your steering column needs to be serviced and could indicate serious mechanical trouble.
A tire symbol that looks like an upward-reaching robotic claw with an exclamation mark in the center lets you know your tire pressure is low.
This light looks like a human buckled into their seat with an airbag deployed; it means your airbags may not deploy properly in an accident.
DPF stands for diesel particulate filter, and its warning light symbol looks a bit like a rectangular keyboard or computer motherboard.
See a transmission light shaped like a bumpy circle surrounding an exclamation mark? This BMW symbol means your transmission is in trouble.
An exclamation mark or the letter "P" surrounded by a circle within a set of parentheses means your emergency brake is not working properly.
If a horizontal looped coil light shows up on your instrument screen, you'll need to have your glow plugs checked.
When a thermometer symbol stands vertically through the center of a car symbol, your vehicle is having problems with its powertrain and needs immediate help.
An emissions light is easily confused with an engine management symbol, but if emissions are the issue, the engine symbol will be just an outline.
If you see a lowercase "i" surrounded by a circle, bring your vehicle in for a checkup.
This looks like an open book and prompts you to check your owner's manual to determine the severity of the alert.
The following BMW warning lights will also illuminate in orange or red, meaning you should take them very seriously, but they indicate issues with driver-assistance programs or potential safety hazards rather than vehicle performance malfunctions.
If a human wearing a seat belt lights up, buckle up, and the light should disappear.
A red steering wheel symbol means your system isn't keeping you in your lane or appropriately distanced from other vehicles.
If the symbol is simply a car swerving on a road, your dynamic stability control is working hard to maintain traction.
A car swerving above the word "OFF" or an exclamation mark surrounded by a triangle wrapped in a circular arrow means your vehicle has lost traction.
One of the most crucial BMW dashboard warning lights: Triangle around an exclamation means an accident is near.
If a pedestrian enters the roadway unexpectedly, you'll see a symbol that looks like a human standing on a road.
If the night vision system detects a hazard your headlights haven't yet illuminated, a sign featuring three humans will appear.
Often symbolized as a colored-in street, this alert tells you to pay closer attention to the road or place your hands back on the steering wheel.
If you're driving off the road or drifting, you'll see BMW warning lights resembling a street with one arrow on either side.
Be aware that driving conditions may be icy and slick if you see a snowflake surrounded by a triangle.
If your BMW warning lights are orange but do not include an exclamation mark or pertain to your vehicle's drivetrain, you can potentially resolve the problem at home. However, allowing the experts at Athens BMW to inspect, diagnose, and repair your vehicle is the safest way to address any problems indicated by your orange or red BMW warning lights. Our professional BMW service center is open Monday through Saturday to offer support.
At Athens BMW, we take your safety seriously. Our service center frequently offers service specials, many of which address the most common problems signaled by BMW warning lights. Explore our service specials page to see which offer could help you save on your dashboard light maintenance appointment.
Yes, under most circumstances, driving a BMW sedan or SUV with an illuminated amber or orange-colored warning light is safe. Amber or orange BMW warning lights indicate a serious but not extremely urgent problem with one or more of your vehicle's systems. You should be able to book a service appointment at your convenience to address any amber or orange BMW warning lights.
The speed limit warning light, also called Speed Limit Assist, is a signal from your BMW vehicle that you've exceeded the legal speed limit so you can manually or automatically reduce your rate of travel. The Speed Limit Assist symbol may look like an analog speedometer coupled with the letters "LIM," or your dashboard may simply light up the word "ASSIST" when this warning is engaged.
If you notice BMW warning lights on your dashboard that look like the symbol for a car battery, this means your vehicle is discharging battery power faster than the alternator can restore it. A battery warning light likely means your battery is damaged, corroded, or needs to be replaced. Turn off any unnecessary electric-based items like heated seats to preserve battery power until you can get your vehicle serviced.
Yes, a drivetrain warning light indicates a very serious issue with your vehicle's transmission, driveshafts, differentials, transfer case, or other power-delivery components. If you see a BMW symbol that looks like a car engine, a car lifted on a jack, a circle around an exclamation mark, or any other dashboard sign accompanied by an exclamation mark, you should immediately seek professional assistance.
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